Members Cite the Lack of Medicaid Expansion, Elimination of Pre-K and Cuts to Public Education Funding as Reasons for Opposing the Budget
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2015
Juneau – The Alaska House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Thursday night without the support of the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition. All 13 members voted no because the budget harms seniors and children while protecting corporate interests and unaffordable projects. The Republican budget includes the total elimination of pre-k programs and a significant $32 million cut in funding for K-12 public education. Overall, the budget deficit still remains $3.5 billion. The Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition proposed millions of dollars in spending cuts while supporting efforts to protect education, seniors and kids.
“We are in the midst of one of the most important budget discussions in Alaska’s history,” said Coalition Leader Rep. Chris Tuck (D-Anchorage). “Our Coalition members consistently tout the priorities of having a lasting commitment to public education, making our communities safer, ensuring access to affordable healthcare, and investing in the future.”
The version of the operating budget approved Thursday night cut public education, eliminated the vital Parents as Teachers program, defunded pre-k programs and made a $25 million dollar cut to the University of Alaska system.
"Cutting the budget makes sense given the $3.5 billion deficit and we offered up millions of dollars in smart and strategic cuts,” said House Finance Committee member Rep. Les Gara (D-Anchorage). “However, eliminating pre-k and ensuring another year of teacher layoffs was something I could not vote for. We also should have taken action, at no additional cost, to stem the epidemic of child neglect and abuse."
Governor Bill Walker and the 13 members of the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition continue to support Medicaid expansion, which was stripped from the approved FY 2016 budget by the Republican controlled Majority in the House. By taking advantage of Medicaid expansion, 4,000 jobs would be created and the number of uninsured in Alaska could be cut in half.
“The decision by the Majority to reject this opportunity to expand Medicaid is an example of playing politics with people’s lives,” said House Finance Committee member Rep. Scott Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks). “It’s time for the opponents of Medicaid expansion to put forward another proposal that would immediately increase access to health care for the neediest of Alaskans, generate billions of dollars of increased economic activity and save the state money. They won’t, because they can’t.”
During the amendment process in the Finance Committee and on the House Floor, the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition offered up millions in possible funding cuts including unneeded megaprojects and deferring hundreds of millions of dollars in tax credits the state is paying the oil industry.
“We are facing a fiscal situation that threatens our livelihoods and our futures,” said Rep. Tuck. “Republican leadership has been a failure. They have promoted unsustainable spending, while shifting the benefits of our resources to outside interests, resulting in insecurity and instability. We will continue to put the best interest of the people of Alaska first and look forward to a vigorous discussion about Alaska’s future in the coming weeks.”
The approved FY 2016 operating budget now moves to the Alaska Senate for consideration.
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